How to Increase in 3 different ways

 Increases are the most important skill to master when knitting. This causes your knitting projects to take on shape and size and become wider or larger. This technique is particularly important for many projects such as sweaters, triangular scarves or hats and for some it is not necessary at all such as scarves, pillowcases or blankets that have a rectangular shape. As you increase, the number of stitches on your knitting needles increases. In this blog entry we would like to show you and explain in more detail 3 different methods of increasing stitches.

The different techniques of increases

You can knit the increases in different ways, such as hidden, natural or emphasized. Of course, you can also place the increases in different ways and create different effects. Either distribute them regularly across the entire project to achieve an even increase, or place them on the outer edges to create a V-shape. The choice of increasing method depends on your design preferences. Increases work with all types of knitting needles, whether Single Pointed knitting needles, double Pointed needles, or Circular Needles.

1st method - the classic increases

Right and Left Leaning Increases

Right-leaning increase: Bring the cross thread between the last stitch knitted and the new stitch with the left knitting needle from back to front onto the left knitting needle. and knit the stitch through the front yarn over. This is a little more difficult because the yarn over sits very tightly on the knitting needle.

Increase to the left: Bring the cross thread between the last stitch knitted and the new stitch with the left knitting needle from front to back onto the left needle and knit the stitch twisted, i.e. through the back yarn over.

This method is suitable for almost all projects, whether sweaters, cardigans, scarves or beanies. Use the right-leaning or left-leaning increase in a wide variety of projects and see how it works in your knitted piece.

2nd method - increase with yarn overs 

Yarn Over (YO): Increasing stitches with a yarn over is the easiest form of increase. To do this, place the working thread from front to back over the right knitting needle before knitting off the following stitch. When making yarn overs, it is important that you always knit them on the left if you knit the piece in stocking stitch so that there are no holes. This technique can be used in many different projects, mainly in shawls that should have a loose texture or a lace pattern or also in raglan projects like shirts, sweaters or Baby clothes. You can do yarn over increases with all types of knitting needles.

3rd method - Increase stitches from edge stitches

When knitting on the sleeves, on triangular shawls or when knitting socks on the edge of the heel, you should ideally increase from edge stitches. This is done as follows:

Simply insert into each stitch gap along the corresponding edge and pull the working thread through for a new stitch. Continue like this along the entire edge until either a row closes into a round or you come to the previously stitched stitches. The latter would be the case with sleeves, for example.

Choosing the Right Method Tailoring to Your Needs Considering project requirements: Each method has its own characteristics; choose the method that best suits your knitting project.

"The secret of knitting lies not only in making stitches, but also in losing them."

- Pearl S. Buck

Are your fingers tingling and would you like to put this newly learned skill to use straight away? Then grab your  knitting needles and let them jingle. Shape your project stitch by stitch using the different increasing techniques and let your creativity run wild.

How to Knit a Lace Scarf

 

Knitting needles in hand, you are all set on your way to create a stunning lace scarf. You'll love lace knitting if you've never tried it before. This tutorial on knitting a lace scarf is intended for those new to the craft. This can be the perfect pattern if you can knit and want to use something lacy to elevate your knitting to a new level. An excellent way to start lace knitting is with this scarf lace knitting pattern.
 
In this tutorial, learn the decrease techniques and the yarn over (YO), which gives lace its open-airiness. In addition, you will learn a necessary skill for all lace patterns: how to block your scarf.
 

So, let's begin with our airy project today!

Lace Scarf

 
Dimensions: This scarf will end up being about 6 inches wide and 73 inches long, but you can adjust the length to your liking with your best knitting needles by increasing the stitch count.
 

Abbreviations:

p2tog tbl: purl 2 together through back loops

SKP: slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over (psso)

Slip 1: slip 1 knitwise

(WS): wrong side

(RS): right side

 

Notes:

●     You have options if you want to knit lace in the round. Both circular and double pointed needles are effective. However, circular needles are useful for more than just round knitting. They also work well for flat knitting, offering even more versatility.

●     For a neat edge, you'll slip each row's first and last stitch on the right side (RS) and purl the first and last stitch on the wrong side (WS).
●     Also, to keep the edges flat, the next two stitches after the edge are always knit on every row. This creates a garter stitch edge.
●     The number of stitches in each row will alternate between 39 and 41.
 
Instructions
Cast on 39 stitches.
 
Garter Stitch Edging: Knit about 1 inch of garter stitch as follows:
●     (WS) purl 1, knit across until the last stitch, purl 1.
●     (RS) slip 1, knit across until the last stitch, slip 1.
●     Repeat these two rows for about 8 rows, ending on a WS row.
Scarf Pattern:
Row 1 (RS): Slip 1, knit 2, SKP, yarn over (yo), knit 2, purl 2, knit 7, knit 2 together (k2tog), yo, knit 1, yo, purl 1, yo, knit 1, yo, SKP, knit 7, purl 2, SKP, yo, knit 4, slip 1.
Row 2 (WS): Purl 1, knit 2, purl 2 together (p2tog), yo, purl 2, knit 2, purl 6, purl 2 together through back loop (p2tog tbl), purl 3, knit 1, purl 3, p2tog, purl 6, knit 2, p2tog, yo, purl 2, knit 2, purl 1.
Row 3 (RS): Repeat row 1, but knit 5 instead of 7 before the first decrease (SKP), and knit 5 instead of 7 after the second decrease (SKP).
Row 4 (WS): Repeat row 2.
Row 5 (RS): Repeat row 1, but knit 3 instead of 7 before the first decrease (SKP), and knit 3 instead of 7 after the second decrease (SKP).
Row 6 (WS): Repeat row 2.
Row 7 (RS): Repeat row 1, but knit 1 instead of 7 before the first decrease (SKP), and knit 1 instead of 7 after the second decrease (SKP).
Row 8 (WS): Repeat row 2.
Continue repeating these 8 rows until your scarf reaches the desired length. Finish with the garter stitch edging, then bind off and weave in the ends.
Here comes the blocking part;
Blocking is crucial to ensure a scarf lies flat and looks its best; this is how you can do it:
 
Prepare Your Materials: You'll need a flat surface like a blocking or ironing board. You'll also need rust-resistant T-pins or blocking wires to secure the edges of your scarf.
Wet the Scarf: Fill a basin or sink with lukewarm water. Submerge your scarf in the water and gently press it to ensure it's completely wet. Give it a good 15 to 20 minutes to soak.
Remove Excess Water: After soaking, carefully lift the scarf out of the water, supporting it from underneath to prevent stretching. Squeeze out extra water gently; do not wring or twist the fabric.
Lay Out the Scarf: Lay a clean towel flat on your blocking surface. Place the wet scarf on the towel, arranging it into its desired shape and dimensions. Smooth out any wrinkles or folds.
Pin or Secure the Edges: Starting at one end, use T-pins or blocking wires to pin down the scarf's edges, ensuring it stays in place and maintains its shape. Space the pins or wires evenly along the edges.
Shape the Scarf: To emphasize features like lace or cables, gently stretch or manipulate those sections into shape. Pay attention to the overall symmetry and alignment of the scarf.
Let it Dry: Allow the scarf to air dry completely. Depending on the yarn and ambient conditions, this may take 24-48 hours. Avoid direct sunlight or heat sources, as they can damage the yarn.
Remove Pins/Wires: Carefully remove the T-pins or blocking wires once the scarf is completely dry. Take care not to snag the yarn as you do this.
Finishing Touches: If needed, gently steam the scarf with an iron on a low setting to help set the shape. Keep the iron a few inches above the fabric and move it in a sweeping motion.
 
Once the scarf is dry and the finishing touches are complete, it's ready to wear or gift. Blocking not only improves the appearance of the scarf but also helps it drape beautifully when worn.
 

Explore the effects of different needle sizes! With a comprehensive knitting needle sets, you'll have all the essential tools and a range of needle sizes at your fingertips, empowering you to express your creativity and experiment with various styles and textures.